Using Database Manager

When to Use Database Manager

Database Manager can be used to perform the following tasks:

• Manage network-related system files using a graphical user interface that provides search capabilities and syntax checking
• Manage system files on the local system or across the network using the NIS+ or NIS name service (with the appropriate access privileges)

Requirements for Using Database Manager

The requirements for using Database Manager are:

• A bit-mapped display monitor
• Ability to use the OpenWindows environment
• Access privileges as described in Chapter 1, "Administration Tool Overview"

Alternatives to Using Database Manager

Database Manager, like the other Administration Tools, cannot be used on an ASCII terminal to modify or display system files. Use an editor and SunOS commands to manage system files when using an ASCII terminal.

Where to Find Information on Specific Tasks

Table 10-1 contains references for Database Manager tasks.

Table 10-1

Task	Location
How to Start Database Manager	page 57
How to Add a System File Entry	page 59
How to Modify a System File Entry	page 59
How to Delete a System File Entry	page 59

Window, Menu, and Command Descriptions

The following section describes Database Manager's windows, menus, and commands.

Database Manager Load Database Window

When you start Database Manager or choose the Load Database command from the File menu, the following window is displayed:

This window is used to select the appropriate name service for your environment. See Chapter 2, "Name Service Management," for information on selecting a name service.

After you have selected a name service, click on Load. The selected system file is loaded and the Database Manager main window is displayed.

Database Manager Main Window

The main window contains four menus: File, View, Edit and Help. The contents of the aliases file are displayed.

File Menu Commands

The Database Manager File menu commands are described in Table 10-2.

Table 10-2

Command	Use This Command To ...
Load Database File	Return to the Load window to select another name service, domain, host, or filter command
Write Text File	Save a version of a system file in another directory

View Menu Commands

The Database Manager View menu commands are described in Table 10-3.

Table 10-3

Command	Use This Command To ...
Show All Entries	Display all file entries. This is the default.
Show Entries That Match	Display entries that match the specified text string
List By Item	Display system file by item category
Find	Find and highlight the first occurrence of an entry that matches the specified text string

Edit Menu Commands

The Database Manager Edit menu commands are described in Table 10-4.

Table 10-4

Command	Use This Command To ...
Add Entry	Add an entry to a system file
Modify Entry	Modify an entry in a system file
Delete Entry	Delete an entry in a system file

Help Menu Commands

The Help menu command is used to access an online handbook, which describes the Database Manager functions of and requirements. See "Using the Help Viewer" on page 9 for more information.

Database Manager Edit Menu

Add Entry Window

Use the Add Entry command on the Edit menu to add an entry to a system file. For example, you can create a new alias in the aliases file by supplying a new alias name and a list of alias members in the Expansion field.

See Table 10-5 on page 125 for a list of required fields when adding entries to the system files managed by Database Manager.

Table 10-5 summarizes the network-related system files managed by Database Manager and the fields that are required and optional when adding entries.

Table 10-5

System File	Field Name	Required or Optional	Field Modifiable by Database Manager?	Field Description
aliases	Alias Expansion	Required Required	No Yes	Mail alias name List of alias members
locale	Host Name Locale Comment	Required Required Optional	No Yes Yes	Host name of client system Native language environment variable Text describing locale
netgroup	Net Group Members	Required Required	No Yes	Network group name List of hosts in network group
netmasks	Network Number Subnet Mask Comment	Required Required Optional	No Yes Yes	IP network number Subnetwork mask number Text describing netmasks
networks	Net Name Net Number Aliases Comment	Required Required Optional Optional	No Yes Yes Yes	Network name Network number Aliases for network name Text describing networks
protocols	Protocol Name Protocol Number Aliases Comment	Required Required Optional Optional	Yes No Yes Yes	Official protocol name Protocol number Aliases for protocol name Text describing protocols
rpc	RPC Name RPC Number Aliases Comment	Required Required Optional Optional	Yes No Yes Yes	Name of RPC program RPC program number Aliases for program names Text describing rpc
services	Service Name Port Number Protocol Name Aliases Comment	Required Required Optional Optional Optional	Yes No No Yes Yes	Official Internet(TM) service name Service port number Protocol used to provide service Aliases for service names Text describing services

Modify Entry Window

Use the Modify Entry command on the Edit menu to add or remove an entry from a system file. For example, an alias in the aliases file can be modified by adding or removing user names from the members list in the Expansion text box. You cannot modify the alias name.

Table 10-5 on page 125 summarizes the modifiable fields of system files that are usually managed by Database Manager. If a field is not modifiable using Database Manager, you can delete the entry and re-add it with the changed information.

Delete Entry Window

To delete an entry from a file, select the entry from the Database Manager main window. Then select Delete Entry from the Edit menu. The following window is displayed asking you to confirm the deletion:

Database Manager View Menu

The View menu contains commands to find and sort system file entries.

Show All Entries

This is the default value, which displays all entries in the selected file.

Show Entries that Match

Show Entries that Match is used to display all entries that match the specified text string.

List by Item Command

This option allows you to sort the file by a field within the file.

Find Command

The Find command enables you to search through the specified file for a particular entry. This command is useful when you are working with a large number of entries.

Files Modified by Database Manager

The network-related system files modified by Database Manager are described in Table 10-6. Some of these files should be managed by their primary tools.

Table 10-6

System File	Description
aliases	Contains aliases in ASCII format for the local host. Or, if it is an NIS+ or NIS file, contains aliases available for use across the network.
auto.home (NIS) or auto_home (NIS+)	Contains entries for client systems to mount their home directories automatically; an indirect automounter map.
bootparams	Contains a list of client systems that need to boot from the network.
ethers	Contains Ethernet addresses of network client systems.
hosts	Contains a list of systems on the network and their associated IP addresses.
locale	Contains the default locales used by network clients.
netgroup	Contains entries for netgroups, a group of systems granted identical access to network resources for security and organizational reasons.
netmasks	Contains network mask values used to implement IP subnetting.
networks	Contains information about available networks.
protocols	Contains information about Internet protocols used in your network.
rpc	Contains entries for available RPC services (by name) and their associated program numbers and aliases.
services	Contains information about network services and their "well-known" port numbers.
timezone	Contains entries for systems and their geographic region and time zone used at installation.

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Note - All of the system files and their primary tools are summarized in Table 10-7 on the next page.

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Table 10-7

System File	Administration Tool
aliases, locale, netgroup, netmasks, networks, protocols, rpc, and services	Database Manager
bootparams, ethers, hosts, and timezone	Host Manager
/etc/lp directory	Printer Manager
/etc/saf directory	Serial Port Manager
passwd and auto_home (or auto.home)	User Account Manager